Bill Text: TX HB2108 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a three-year high school diploma plan and cost-neutral expansion of full-day prekindergarten programs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-05 - Referred to Public Education [HB2108 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB2108-Introduced.html
83R9979 KKA-D | ||
By: White | H.B. No. 2108 |
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relating to a three-year high school diploma plan and cost-neutral | ||
expansion of full-day prekindergarten programs. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 28.0255 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 28.0255. THREE-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA PLAN. (a) A | ||
school district may develop and implement a program for students | ||
who wish to obtain a high school diploma after completion of three | ||
years of secondary school attendance as an alternative to the | ||
traditional four-year period of attendance. | ||
(b) Participation by a student in the program must be | ||
voluntary, with approval of the student's parent. A student who | ||
agrees to participate in the program may, on request, discontinue | ||
participation and resume taking courses under the minimum, | ||
recommended, or advanced high school program. | ||
(c) Notwithstanding Section 28.025, the school district | ||
shall specify the curriculum requirements for receiving a high | ||
school diploma under the program. The curriculum requirements must | ||
ensure that a student who graduates under the program possesses | ||
sufficient knowledge and skills in English language arts and | ||
mathematics to be capable of performing successfully in | ||
postsecondary education courses. | ||
(d) The school district shall submit the proposed | ||
curriculum requirements to the State Board of Education for comment | ||
and the commissioner for approval. The district may not implement | ||
the program before obtaining the commissioner's approval of the | ||
proposed curriculum requirements. | ||
(e) A student is entitled to a high school diploma if the | ||
student: | ||
(1) successfully complies with the curriculum | ||
requirements specified under Subsection (c); and | ||
(2) performs satisfactorily, as determined by the | ||
commissioner under Subsection (f), on end-of-course assessment | ||
instruments listed under Section 39.023(c) for courses in which the | ||
student was enrolled. | ||
(f) For purposes of Subsection (e)(2), the commissioner | ||
shall determine the level of satisfactory performance on applicable | ||
end-of-course assessment instruments administered to a student. | ||
(g) The school district shall report the academic | ||
achievement record of students who have completed the program on a | ||
transcript that clearly identifies the program and distinguishes | ||
the program from the minimum, recommended, and advanced high school | ||
programs. | ||
(h) A student who has received a diploma under the program | ||
is exempt from the compulsory school attendance requirements under | ||
Section 25.085. | ||
(i) To the extent this section conflicts with any other | ||
provision of this code or rule adopted under this code, this section | ||
prevails. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 42.2526 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 42.2526. ADJUSTMENT FOR DISTRICT OPERATING THREE-YEAR | ||
DIPLOMA PROGRAM. (a) This section applies only to a school | ||
district operating a program authorized by Section 28.0255. | ||
(b) Beginning with the first school year that follows the | ||
first school year in which students receive high school diplomas | ||
under the program authorized by Section 28.0255 and continuing for | ||
every subsequent school year that the district operates the | ||
program, the commissioner shall provide funding for the district's | ||
prekindergarten program under Section 29.153 on a full-day basis | ||
for a number of prekindergarten students equal to twice the number | ||
of students who received a high school diploma under the program | ||
authorized by Section 28.0255 during the preceding school year. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |